How to travel Thailand with the new Thailand Pass
As of November 1, 2021, entry into Thailand is only possible with a Thailand passport.
How exactly the whole thing works, how our experiences were and especially how the theory differs from the actual practice, you will learn in the following. We entered Thailand a few days ago — probably as some of the first tourists — with the new Thailand Passport.
Before that, we were traveling in Sri Lanka and there was a very happy turn regarding our travel plans. There is now a new list of countries that are allowed to travel to Thailand from November without quarantine with the Test&Go as well as with the new Thailand Passport. Sri Lanka was also added to this list shortly before our departure.
The travel planning
Another short term change for us was that we now entered Thailand with the Thailand Passport instead of the previously valid COE (Certificate of Entry). Since we wanted to travel to Thailand exactly in the period where one had to consider whether it was better to apply for the COE or the Thailand Passport, we initially applied for the COE. However, as of November 1, the application is no longer possible and the COE has been replaced by the Thailand Passport.
Fortunately, we still received our COE early in the morning on November 1 and thus did not have to worry about receiving the Thailand Passport in time for our departure. This was because it was scheduled only a few days after the official release to apply for the Thailand Passport and the approval of the Thailand Passport can probably take up to 7 business days. Thus, we would have had to play poker to see if we would get our Thailand passport in time before we entered the country.
However, since our COE was issued for entry via the Bangkok Sandbox and not via entry via Test&Go “without” quarantine, we then additionally applied for the Thailand Passport. The application website was supposed to go online at 09:00 in the morning (Bangkok time) on November 1. We set an extra alarm clock to find out that the website is not yet online as it was announced.
The Thailand Pass
A few hours later the website was online and you could fill in the fields and documents to apply for the Thailand passport. However, there was an error on the last page, which made the application of the Thailand passport on the first day unfortunately impossible. This error message is a bug in the website, which first had to be fixed by the developers.
One day later we tried again. This time successfully. Shortly after sending the data, you receive a confirmation email in which it is once again pointed out that you will receive the Thailand Pass in the next 7 working days by mail as a QR code. After another day I received a mail that my Thailand passport was rejected due to missing information of my vaccination certificate and I have to apply for it again. So once again everything filled out and uploaded, sent and only 10 minutes later I had my confirmed Thailand passport by email.
Not so with Marc. Although we had applied and sent his Thailand passport even before mine, his confirmation came only a few hours before our departure to Thailand. But hey, at least he has the Thailand passport now. The funny thing is that both of us — when we were already on our way to Thailand — received three more mails approving the Thailand Passport. So their system doesn’t seem to work quite yet. :-D
Goodbye Sri Lanka!
In the evening we went by cab to the airport in Sri Lanka. There we were already welcomed at the cab by a gentleman who took over our suitcases directly and finally pushed them through the whole airport. Before entering the airport we had to show our flight tickets and the negative PCR test. By the way, we had done this the day before in the parking garage of a hospital and received the result after one hour by e-mail.
At the check-in we had to show our passports, visas, the negative PCR test, our vaccination cards and the hotel booking of a SHA+, ASQ or AQ hotel. We were also asked about an onward or return flight. At first this seemed hugely important but in the end we had not booked one and did not have to show a flight, not even a flight number.
I am sorry to say that I have never experienced such a slow check-in as in Sri Lanka. From our arrival at the counter with two travelers in front of us to the completion of the check-in has passed over an hour. Madness… Just as lengthy was then the control before it went to the boarding. There we had to show our passports and the flight tickets once again. The procedure there took another 45 minutes, because we still had to pay the visa extension for Sri Lanka.
Marc still thought, he pays the whole thing quickly online via credit card, so that it goes faster. Unfortunately, the employees were then but not able to track the payment in their system and of course could not do anything with our payment confirmation. So we had to wait there until the last call of our flight and finally they called the gate to let them know that we would be joining them shortly. Otherwise we probably would have missed our flight — although we were early enough at the airport.
From Sri Lanka via Singapore to Bangkok
At the last minute we made it onto the plane to Singapore. There we also got a hygiene kit with mask, disinfectant wipe and disinfectant. About 4 hours later we landed in Singapore. The flight was really very pleasant and the plane very empty.
In Singapore all passengers received a wristband. The transit travelers, who fly further to Bangkok, got a different colored wristband than the other travelers and we should line up like in school. Then we continued with a guide through the whole airport. This makes you feel like you’re on a class trip where you dutifully follow the teacher. :-D
The airport of Singapore is simply huge. Unfortunately, we could not look at him, because we were completely led through. We even drove a few minutes with a kind of golfcar, because the route is so incredibly long. Still, it’s a bit of a shame that we didn’t really get to see anything of the airport but regarding Corona, it’s so naturally better not to mix the travelers and thus minimize any possible contagion. However, we also did not get to go briefly to the toilet or eat a snack. Well…
Finally we went on to Bangkok. The airplane had even less travelers on board than on the flight to Singapore but that also has advantages. Again, there was a hygiene kit and the typical Thai entry slip, which we also filled out directly. Small tip: Always have a pen in your hand luggage! You need it every now and then!
Arrived in Bangkok, Thailand
Once we landed in Bangkok, we got off the plane very quickly. The airport was emptier than ever, there were really very few other travelers. So we followed the signs to immigration. Everywhere else, however, are employees who kindly show a confused tourist the right way. Of course, masks were mandatory during the whole trip and also in Bangkok all the time.
On the way to immigration, one has already seen a row of staggered chairs where the Thailand passport is controlled. It is really not to be overlooked. Shortly taken a seat on a chair, the countless documents such as passport, visa, vaccination card, PCR test, foreign health insurance as well as the hotel booking and the QR code of the Thailand passport shown and that’s it. I have to be honest, I don’t think they really paid attention to the accuracy of the documents. I was sent on after a few seconds and just had a mess of sheets in my hand.
A few meters further on, you are then asked once again to show your Thailand passport on your cell phone (or printed if you want). An employee briefly scans the QR code and that’s it. Continue to immigration, where you show only once the passport and the visa and it is actually already done. The official entry into Thailand is done. We needed only a few minutes, because everything is very organized and structured.
Still quickly fetched the suitcases, cash withdrawn and a Thai SIM bought and we could already go to the exit. There are also directly tables with signs to the corresponding hotels. Employees of the respective SHA+, ASQ or AQ hotels take you friendly in reception and organize after showing the appropriate hotel booking a transport. Important for the hotel booking:
the hotel booking must be in a certified SHA+, ASQ or AQ hotel
the hotel booking must include a PCR test.
It is best to check with the selected hotel in advance whether it is really certified and whether the required conditions regarding the PCR test and quarantine are met. But this should actually already be noticed when applying for the Thailand passport, because there you will be asked for a corresponding confirmation.
One day in quarantine at Berkeley Pratunam
Although it is actually said that an entry to Thailand without quarantine is possible, this is not quite true. It is quite cleverly called “Test & Go”. Until you receive the negative PCR test result in the hotel, you are not allowed to leave the room you booked there. So you are in quarantine after all, but for a maximum of one day.
At the reception of the Berkeley Hotel we had to show our Thailand passport again, as well as our passports and the hotel booking. Afterwards, we could choose between different dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner on a slip of paper. Special requests, such as vegetarian dishes or allergies could also be entered. Afterwards we went to our room.
The room was really very nice and also very big. Really impressive. A great bathroom with shower and bathtub as well as a large room with two large beds, two tables and large glass fronts are our home for the next few hours. Since we arrived around noon, we also got our first meal brought to the room shortly after. Afterwards we slept a little, since we flew overnight.
In the afternoon, a staff member in full protective clothing came to perform the required PCR test in our room. Shortly a stick in both nostrils and already ready. The staff member was very friendly and careful. Quite different from the experience of the PCR test when entering Sri Lanka back then. We were supposed to receive our result by 10 pm in the evening.
In fact, the result came only the next morning, which was not too bad, because we were tired from the trip anyway. A call to our room told us that the result was in and we could check out now. So we got ready, packed our bags again and went down to the reception. There we received two pieces of paper with the PCR test result and that was it. From now on we are allowed to travel Thailand completely. No more quarantine and no more tests.
The differences between theory and reality
I have often read in my research that you still have to download a special app for entry into Thailand, which is probably also controlled at entry. This was not the case with us now. Nowhere we were asked for an app or even pointed out that we need this. All the better if you ask me :-D
In addition, it was said in advance that you still get a self-test in the booked hotel, which you should do yourself on the 7th day after arrival and then enter somewhere. This also does not correspond to reality. We did not receive a self-test and were not told that we had to do another test.
To be sure, we have asked several times if everything is now done with the negative test result and this seems to be so. In the meantime we have already stayed one night in another hotel in Bangkok, spent one day in the Malls on Bangkok and are currently in Khao Yai in a resort.
When applying for the Thailand Passport, it can actually take only a few minutes to get the results. However, it is also possible that several days pass. I don’t quite understand how exactly the system works there. Marc and I submitted our documents at the same time and they are basically identical. Sure, he has different contact details and a different vaccination but the structure of the documents is completely the same and we submitted exactly the same documents. Nevertheless, my result was directly there while he received it only shortly before departure.
Therefore it is better and also more relaxed to apply for the Thailand passport early enough before the planned departure. If then still something goes wrong — and usually still something goes wrong — one has then still enough time to react without falling into the total time pressure.
All in all, the entry to Thailand is very easy and fast. Everything is very well organized and if you have all the necessary documents, there are no problems. We are very happy to finally be back in Thailand and now to be able to travel here without any problems!
